Of '53 (Some Music And The Gallows)

Copyright
©2017 by [url=m.facebook.com/profile.php?id=100018374311644&refid=46&]Wisdom J. Muhammad[/url]

yinoluwalogo@gmail.com

No part of this story may be reproduced by any means without the prior permission by the author. Anyone who wishes to repost this story to any other online forum, Facebook group, blog or any other website should endeavour to acknowledge the author's identity and kindly notify the author by sending him a mail. God bless you all.

Synopsis -
Hayatou becomes the president of his nation. And that comes with all his past has to offer. His twins used to be children to a woman in another nation. Life storms his vessel and his old hands fidget, letting life sail through the bumps but, as he may also know, into a hut built of the continent, Africa. Graves will be dug and whichever man will be better will be laid in. Africa trembles.

Relive history and be defined.

Dedication:
The old hag, the tainted soul, the weakest vessel, the one with a million folds of wrinkles. But whose children will rise. Africa. And you too.

PROLOGUE

---

February 15, 1953.

The man shut his eyes reflexively and gave the dirty, brown sheets a staggering pull; his breathing hastened and contracted, like the turbines of Kanji, and his dark face contorted into a mask of wild pleasure as though he was a bull on heat. He grunted in very rapid succesions and every muscle in his hard body tensed and exploded, giving forth a strangely pleasant sensation like the fleeting, treacherous prick of a needle. Hot, sticky jelly flowed, unrestricted, into the woman that lied underneath him and some of the white mess spotted on her light, slim laps. Her eyes, unlike his, were open but the insides had all turned white. She tightened the grip she had used her legs to lock his sturdy body in and wriggled like curly, long hair on the old, dull mat.

'Ina son ku, Jummai,' the dark, sturdy man scooped the slim woman up, with him still in her, and kissed her. She returned the kiss with her delicate finesse and he moved inside her but he had been spent already - same with her, he knew. He put her down after the kiss and traced the contours of her beautiful body with his long fingers.

Jummai sat on a stool, still naked, and smiled at him. She loved how their smell combined and mingled with the one in this room, the smell that he had always claimed reminded him of his home, his hometown, in Calabar. Maybe it was because of her tiny cooking or the smell of her cape. She didn't know but she was glad he loved it.

They had met nine months earlier, when he had just been transferred to the close-by Kotoko barracks from Calabar. One fateful day, he had strayed from the barracks and had ended up wandering around for hours. The effects of his walk and the despair that laced his heart, like white on rice, was starting to eat him out and his head had begun to chime when he saw her. Her.

Her back was turned and she was having a mud pot on her head. Her appearance gave the image of a painted lady showing off her body. Desperate, he had whistled and she had turned. Then, he heard something like a shriek before she broke into a sprint. He had run after her of course and had yelled madly like a big parade of thunderstorm before he stumped his legs and fell. He thought it was the end and his tough eyelids had gained softness and were about to dream when he heard movements. She had returned.

Her long robe left nothing but her finely drawn eyes and that was all it took to lose himself. After several persuasion, she had poured water on him and, even after that, had kept a distance from him. Communicating with her was a problem but it was worth the haggle for when she finally spoke, her voice was delicate, like the just growing tender tendrils of cocoyams. He immediately felt thankful that he had listened to some tweeny, tiny Hausa over the months. They had shared smiles and she had afterwards shown him to Kotoko, his base. Maybe it was the strangeness with which they met or the pleasant welling in her heart when he spoke, she couldn't say but she had yearned to see him return. And he had. In the little bushes where they had first met.

Presently, they were in her stuffy room. In fact, it was a hut and she had been living in it for many years now. Baba had taken her to this place as soon as she had become mature and had grown full in some shameful parts - as Baba had put it - of her body. It was her other home - far from the one in the city, and every item in the room smelt of her sweats, amongst others. Normally, the huts were shared by 5, 6 girls but Baba's status had earned her hers. She put a few touches in some places. There was the wooden table in a corner; the plates; the neat heap of clothes and, lastly, the old, dull mat. The wooden table had become a part of her as Baba had made it for her since she was 16. She read her Arabic writings on it, prepared food on it and did all other things. Then, her meals which she was sure he enjoyed. She had begun cooking as far back as she could remember. The room had no definite paint color but the walls were not bare. The room was often dark at night save for the local locomotive lamp that burned lowly at times, as now. If one was mindless, lit or not, one could hit his shin against the heavy wooden table.

The droplets dropped on the thatched roof and that alarmed her mildly. It was 10 pm already and he couldn't sleep there. Sneaking him in the darkness hadn't been easy, think less in the day. Quickly, she put on her dark jellabiya and she escorted him into the compound. She feared the sun would just rise from its slumber and expose her betrayal to the heaving trees and her heart trembled out of fear. He realized and fondled her hands and she quietly slipped into her room. After some time, she fell asleep on her rafia mat, after laying some wrappers on it, and dreamed of seeing him in a few weeks but that never happened. She would never hear from him until long, several years later.

To Be Continued

Inviting Theblessedman (I need that your intro), Akinwale14 (come and do your magic), Lilyjoe567, Queenite, Helenbee, PamelB, Kimberlywest, Kingphilip, jtmanager, henergygirl, adontcare, Purityval, Yinks89, EvaJael, Toyin223, Yeeshanana, Chara019, Yungeez, Yorhmienerd, Lankyannie, Oyindawealth, KingZero, Princessadeola Chumzypinky, Royh, TGold1 and others. Please invite more readers, criticize the piece and chill with me.

Inviting the readers from 'Marital SHAMBLES', my most recent piece.


Hormobolanle, Emmiesmart44, Hadampson, Mismore, T1976, Ikdbabie, Missmossy, Adesina12 (Please share the popcorn on the house), Spdazzy, Forzarush, Mayreeyam, StephanieElla24, Sveen, Lovingangel, Teebashy, TiffanyJ, Stuff46, TrishaP, StormAngel, Nimk, Adeh39, Essyprity, Queening, Aprilwise, Harjibolar10, Onemansquad, Skimpledawg, Alienstar, Mhizashantee1, Kenwins, Olashas, Mznelly, Vonn, Lanicky, Ministerblessed, Gmekx, Cherrybrown, Lordseb (My No. 1 critique!), Gracile, eROCK247, Lordtriplee, Odebanky, Bollixy, Girlhaley, FixNigeria, Aytuns, DandyPearl and others I might have forgotten.

will kukuma be the first follower ni. lemme quickly read this am coming.

Food don durn. Lemme sit at d front seat. Seatbelt buckled. Popcorn n ice cream; checked. Oya carry go.

OluwabuqqyYOLO:
Inviting the readers from 'Marital SHAMBLES', my most recent piece.


Hormobolanle, Emmiesmart44, Hadampson, Mismore, T1976, Ikdbabie, Missmossy, Adesina12 (Please share the popcorn on the house), Spdazzy, Forzarush, Mayreeyam, StephanieElla24, Sveen, Lovingangel, Teebashy, TiffanyJ, Stuff46, TrishaP, StormAngel, Nimk, Adeh39, Essyprity, Queening, Aprilwise, Harjibolar10, Onemansquad, Skimpledawg, Alienstar, Mhizashantee1, Kenwins, Olashas, Mznelly, Vonn, Lanicky, Ministerblessed, Gmekx, Cherrybrown, Lordseb (My No. 1 critique!), Gracile, eROCK247, Lordtriplee, Odebanky, Bollixy, Girlhaley, FixNigeria, Aytuns, DandyPearl and others I might have forgotten.

I don arrive... thanks 4 d invite
Lemme quickly put my reading glasses on8)

Evajael, akinwale14, jane1234f, kimberlywest, samyfreshsmooth and queenitee.. come and join me

Itz bin a while guys.. cc: angelinastto, olatex25 and oly23

Hadampson:
I don arrive... thanks 4 d invite
Lemme quickly put my reading glasses on8)

Evajael, akinwale14, jane1234f, kimberlywest, samyfreshsmooth and queenitee.. come and join me

Itz bin a while guys.. cc: angelinastto, olatex25 and oly23

thanks for d invitation

Hadampson:
I don arrive... thanks 4 d invite
Lemme quickly put my reading glasses on8)

Evajael, akinwale14, jane1234f, kimberlywest, samyfreshsmooth and queenitee.. come and join me

Itz bin a while guys.. cc: angelinastto, olatex25 and oly23

I'm here. Kimkardashain come and join me sis, mhizgap where art thou? Ladysuperb?

Hadampson:
I don arrive... thanks 4 d invite
Lemme quickly put my reading glasses on8)

Evajael, akinwale14, jane1234f, kimberlywest, samyfreshsmooth and queenitee.. come and join me

Itz bin a while guys.. cc: angelinastto, olatex25 and oly23

I have arrived.
Thanks for the invite, the story make sense wella.

Thumbs up writer but please pity my poor heart and come and update o.

Hadampson:
I don arrive... thanks 4 d invite
Lemme quickly put my reading glasses on8)

Evajael, akinwale14, jane1234f, kimberlywest, samyfreshsmooth and queenitee.. come and join me

Itz bin a while guys.. cc: angelinastto, olatex25 and oly23

the boss of all boss

i have arrived
and thanks for the mention

i don land,tnks 4 d mention sis. front seat na 4 me

OluwabuqqyYOLO:
Inviting Theblessedman (I need that your intro), Akinwale14 (come and do your magic), Lilyjoe567, Queenite, Helenbee, PamelB, Kimberlywest, Kingphilip, jtmanager, henergygirl, adontcare, Purityval, Yinks89, EvaJael, Toyin223, Yeeshanana, Chara019, Yungeez, Yorhmienerd, Lankyannie, Oyindawealth, KingZero, Princessadeola Chumzypinky, Royh, TGold1 and others. Please invite more readers, criticize the piece and chill with me.

Hope I am not late, can I still get a seat so I can enjoy this wonderful story?

we don arrive na wid d intro i can see d future is bright or wat u say lilyjoe567 bby.

Hadampson:
I don arrive... thanks 4 d invite
Lemme quickly put my reading glasses on8)

Evajael, akinwale14, jane1234f, kimberlywest, samyfreshsmooth and queenitee.. come and join me

Itz bin a while guys.. cc: angelinastto, olatex25 and oly23

Thanks for the mention. This is the kind of person I call a writer

Booked.

OluwabuqqyYOLO:
Inviting Theblessedman (I need that your intro), Akinwale14 (come and do your magic), Lilyjoe567, Queenite, Helenbee, PamelB, Kimberlywest, Kingphilip, jtmanager, henergygirl, adontcare, Purityval, Yinks89, EvaJael, Toyin223, Yeeshanana, Chara019, Yungeez, Yorhmienerd, Lankyannie, Oyindawealth, KingZero, Princessadeola Chumzypinky, Royh, TGold1 and others. Please invite more readers, criticize the piece and chill with me.

Present and following

YINKS89:
we don arrive na wid d intro i can see d future is bright or wat u say lilyjoe567 bby.

Hey babe, just got here.... 6D glasses on and viewing. The future does seem bright

Best intro I ever read on nairaland thus far.
Soooo following.

EvaJael:

Thanks for the mention. This is the kind of person I call a writer

Definitely a born writer. I read the intro twice.

Present!!!

Thanks for the comments, people. I'm at work presently. Please spare me. I assure you I'll update once I'm home. Thanks for understanding.

Lilyjoe567:


Hey babe, just got here.... 6D glasses on and viewing. The future does seem bright

kom sit beside mi... i juz booked a vip space for us with alot of popcorn nd drinks.... hope u like shawarma make i order.

YINKS89:
kom sit beside mi... i juz booked a vip space for us with alot of popcorn nd drinks.... hope u like shawarma make i order.

Thanks.... and order away, would like to keep my mouth busy

CHAPTER 1, 'Of 53

---

April 14, '53

---

The day was gradually getting dark. The sun's eyelids turned heavy - too heavy - and, soon, it fell asleep. Relief fell upon the city like heavy blocks of ice, bringing forth a chatter or two here and there. The adhans then sounded loudly from the minarets, settling in the atmosphere like fine, filtered, brown, sandy particles in salt. The rich, creamy darkness of the night then began to wear off and the skies loosened, unfolding the silver pores of the moon across its face. A peculiar ilk of cold, like weight on a wavering feather, then started to hang on the lapel of the night, releasing a mildly stinging air into the ambience.

Presently, a dark, manly silhouette sat under the apparently makeshift kiosk of a food vendor and rubbed each of his hands against the other, both stimulating just enough heat for the moment. He cussed under his rough breath, raided his throat and dump a load of phlegm into the muddy gutter that idly laid just before one entered the kiosk. There were times though - like the day before - when the gutter would be active and would gurgle with the brown roaring water like a volcano spitting huge, orange balls of fire. But that day was not one of those times. The silhouette put on a little, silver torch and some light pinched the darkness. He shone the illuminating circle on a mini clock that he held high in one of his dark hands and shook his head, as though to whine in pain. It was some minutes past the auspicious 21st hour.

An engine went off in a distance, behind Karim Leather Company, a 100 metre or so ahead, and a casually wistful noise followed. Again, the silhouette rubbed his hands together and did a quick quick eye. He walked toward a minivan and the lights landed on his face. It was Christopher, Jummai's man.

A man in ash knickers and black polo alighted from the minivan and ambled forward to meet him. They walked past each other without a gesture and after a few yards, they stopped and the minivan's lights broke into two. Each part evolved into nothingness and the ordinary silvery coating of the night returned.

'The war should end tomorrow,' the other man blabbed like a-month-old baby.

'But the battle has never been won.' He supplied and his hand swung to his chest like rifles of war.

'Gecko.'

'By the roadside, sir.'

'The general wants you back in 36 hours.'

'What?!' The words hit him hard, and he almost bit his tongue. 'There is an arrangement, sir...' the words came out incoherent. He felt cold beads of sweat fill his head.

'It's the general's order. Gecko, obey.' The voice was frozen, chill and lacked emotions. It carried a conviction, one that let it order others on someone else's command.

'Oh-kay!' He couldn't hold his emotions. His voice came out disjointed and a lump formed in his throat.

'Have your documents,' the man handed him an envelope. 'Arrive at evacuation area ut sit.'

'Bene mi.' He bowed his head.


He looked at the passport in his hand. 'Hayatou Selim.' His heart sank to the bottom, like sledgehammers in air, and he left it there. A jelly-like mess enveloped his head, like a ball of cotton wool left in water. Tears streamed down his face. He was powerless. And, for this, he was sad.

'DESTINATION: Hometown; Cameroon.'

Jummai... Jummai.. Jummai.
****TO BE CONTINUED****

Lilyjoe567:


Thanks.... and order away, would like to keep my mouth busy

dnt worry dres alot of money to spend.

OluwabuqqyYOLO:
Inviting Theblessedman (I need that your intro), Akinwale14 (come and do your magic), Lilyjoe567, Queenite, Helenbee, PamelB, Kimberlywest, Kingphilip, jtmanager, henergygirl, adontcare, Purityval, Yinks89, EvaJael, Toyin223, Yeeshanana, Chara019, Yungeez, Yorhmienerd, Lankyannie, Oyindawealth, KingZero, Princessadeola Chumzypinky, Royh, TGold1 and others. Please invite more readers, criticize the piece and chill with me.

m here... Wat did i miss

Lankyannie:
will kukuma be the first follower ni.
lemme quickly read this am coming.

First follower you were. First lady you are. Thanks much, Annie (will you be my African queen?)

adontcare:
Food don durn. Lemme sit at d front seat. Seatbelt buckled. Popcorn n ice cream; checked. Oya carry go.

Oya na. I hope you will come to care about me as the journey progresses.

Hadampson:
I don arrive... thanks 4 d invite
Lemme quickly put my reading glasses on

You are welcome, brother, thanks too.

Akinwale14:
thanks for d invitation

You are welcome, brother mi.

KimberlyWest:
I have arrived.
Thanks for the invite, the story make sense wella.

Thumbs up writer but please pity my poor heart and come and update o.

Oh, it's the Adorable Kim and her curves! Why ever would I not shower your heart with kizzes and hugs? I'm yours for the taking, just ask and I'll update.

Kimkardashain:
i don land,tnks 4 d mention sis. front seat na 4 me

Front seat could never have been reserved for someone more worthy! Something was juz telling me wi pe I should resav a seat, pe iz meant for a quin. Now, I see.

queenitee:
Hope I am not late, can I still get a seat so I can enjoy this wonderful story?

Late ke? Not at all. You even have a sofa all to yourself. We can juz sheel hun it together.

This story is gonna be da bomb. Wow!!